Apparatus for trimming and slitting webs



Dec. 27, 1955 H. H. BROOKS 2,728,393

APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SLITTING WEBS Filed Nov. 22, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet l fil xi? 9 s:

Z\- Q W 2 LL INVENTOR. HAROLD H. BROOKS Dec. 27, 1955 H. H. BROOKSAPPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SLITTING WEBS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 22,1952 FIG- 2 INVENTOR.

HAROLD H. BROOKS BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1955 H. H. BROOKS 2,723,393

APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SLITTING WEBS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 22,1952 INVENTOR.

HAROLD HLJBROOKS BY 'YMA-.. Fm

ATTORNEYS FIG-l2 Dec. 27, 1955 H. H. BROOKS APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING ANDSLITTING WEBS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 22, 1952 INVENTOR.

HAROLD H. BROOKS 8Y5, g

v 'LZLMQA ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1955 H. H. BROOKS APPARATUS FOR TRIMMINGAND SLITTING WEBS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 22, 1952 FIG-l6 FIG-llINVENTOR.

HAROLD H. BROOKS F 27 ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1955 H. H. BROOKS 2,728,393

APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AND SLITTING WEBS Filed Nov. 22, 1952 6Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG-l8 IN V EN TOR.

HAROLD H. BROOKS 'fwf ATTORNEYS United States Patent APPARATUS FORTRIMNIING AND SLITTING WEBS Harold H. Brooks, Columbus, Ohio ApplicationNovember 22, 1952, Serial No. 324,172

4 Claims. (Cl. 16465) This invention relates to a method and apparatusfor trimming and slitting webs and is generally similar to the apparatusdisclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 245,100, filedSeptember 5, 1951, now Patent No. 2,705,049 dated March 29, 1955, but isan improvement thereover.

The work member which the device according to the present invention isadapted for operating comprises an elongated web of coated fabric,particularly material for a wall covering. These webs of fabric are madeup in lengths of up to 2400 yards, and heretofore have been produced infour foot Widths with a trimming strip along each edge. Due to theextreme width of the strip and the necessity for exact trimmingpreparatory to hanging the strip, the use of this wall covering hasheretofore largely been restricted to skilled persons. A substantiallylarger market can be opened up, however, and the hanging of the coveringmade easier if the product can be brought out in two foot widths andalready trimmed to exact size.

With this general objective in view, the device disclosed in theco-pending application referred to above was developed and put intooperation, and, while it accomplished an eminently satisfactory job ofmaking a clean and sharp incision in the web, it wasfound to be lackingin trimming and slitting to close enough limits to insure a properproduct. This fault came about because it was found that the webs ofmaterial varied somewhat in width along their lengths and any fixedtrimming arrangement would thus result in a trimmed strip where the trimline did not exactly match the printed pattern.

In general, the variation in width of the web came about on account ofshrinkage at certain points therealong, as, for example, in the areawhere two pieces of the fabric being coated were joined together. Thisvariation in width of the strip quantitatively is a relatively minormatter, and, further, the rate of variation is slight, and because ofthis a printed web trimmed to the proper line with reference to thepattern can always be hung properly, due to the inherent flexibility ofthe material.

Having the foregoing in mind, this invention has for its primary objecta method and apparatus for trimming and slitting webs of the naturedescribed, particularly printed Webs, such that the difiicultiesreferred to above are entirely eliminated and the resulting product isalways trimmed to a precise line relative to the printed patternthereon.

Another object is the provision for a method and apparatus for trimmingand slitting webs which is rapid in operation, and wherein the machineis easy to set up.

A still further object is the provision of a method and apparatus forprinting a web in such a manner that it is particularly adapted for usein a web trimming and slitting machine according to this invention.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent uponreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a machine according to this 2,728,393Patented Dec. 27, 1955 Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the machine atthe cutting end thereof;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the center part of Figure 4 atenlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 on Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view on line 77 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which a pantographarrangement forming a part of this invention operates;

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a trimming and slitting knife foruse in the machine;

Figure 10 is a plan view showing a typical feeler mem ber forming a partof the control system of this invention;

Figure 11 is a view looking in at the end of the feeler arrangement inFigure 10, and is indicated by line 11-11 on Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a section indicated by line 12-12 on Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric controlcircuit associated with the feeler;

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic system thatis under the control of the feeler and its associated electric circuit;

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic representation of the printing of a webaccording to the present invention;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic representation of a printed web showing themanner in which the web is trimmed at the time of printing;

Figure 17 is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the knifeholders; and

Figure 18 is a sectional view indicated by line 18-18 on Figure 17showing details of construction of the knife holder.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, the machine of thisinvention comprises a frame, generally represented at 10, and comprisingat the one end means 12 forming tracks for supporting a carriage 14 forlateral movement in the frame. Carriage 14 is adapted for receiving aroll 16 of the material to be trimmed and slit. The web of material,represented by letter W leads from roll 16 over a first roller 18, andthen over a plurality of idler rollers 20 distributed about the frame ofthe machine, and which preferably include means for maintaining apredetermined tension on the web. The web W then leads over anotheridler roller 22, and then passes underneath a pair of relatively largerollers 24 and is held thereagainst by a fairly small intermediateroller 26 beneath the web. After passing over the rollers 24, the web iswound on a suitable receiving spindle 23.

As will be seen in Figure 2, the roller 18 is laterally shiftable in theframe of the machine by means of hydraulic cylinder and piston 30connected to one end of the supporting shaft for the said roller and theother end of the said shaft being connected by a bracket 32 to shaft 34of the supply roll 16, so that lateral shifting movements of roller 18will be accompanied by equal lateral shifting movements of the supplyroll.

In cooperation with the means associated with the rollers 20 formaintaining a predetermined tension on the web, shaft 34 may include abraking means, generally illustrated at 36, for applying a predeterminedbraking eiiect on the said shaft.

Associated with the left-hand one of rollers 24, as viewed in Figure 1,are a plurality of cutting blades 38 which are in the form of extra-longrazor blades mounted on the ends of arms 40, each of which is pivoted at42 to a suitable supporting framework 44, and so biased by a weight 46that the cutting blade is pressed toward the roller 24.

As will be seen in Figure 3, the arms 40 are actually supported to oneside of their supporting brackets 44, and are shiftable laterally intheir respective brackets by the adjustable screw 48, and can be clampedin position by the clamp nut 50.

In Figures 1 and 3 through 5, it will be noted that underneath rollers24 and extending transversely in the frame of the machine is a rigidtable or platform 52. This platform 52 has fixed thereto upstandingguide rails 54 which slidably receive the slides 56, and each of whichslides is rigidly connected with an upstanding support plate 53 that hasat its upper end a horizontal slide portion 60 extending leftwardlytherefrom, as viewed in Figure l.

Slide portion 60 of each of the upstanding parts 58 of the slides 56 isassociated with one of the cutter knife supporting brackets 44. The saidbrackets 44 are supported on the slide parts 60 for movement thereon andare likewise slidably engaged by a transverse bar 62, so that the knifesupporting brackets 44 will all slide in unison. The plate 62 issupported at each end by the rails 64 and also adjacent each end are theracks 66 engaged by the gears 68 that are interconnected by shaft 70.The purpose of this arrangement is so that during operation of themachine shaft 70 can be rotated slowly, and this will gradually shiftthe cutting blades in the direction of their length, thus continuouslypresenting a clean and sharp cutting edge to the web being trimmed andslit, so that at all times a perfectly sharp cut is obtained.

At the same time, the brackets 44 are slidable longitudinally of therail or bar 62 relative to each other.

Associated with the tWo end slides 56 are the stationary hydrauliccylinders 72 within which are mounted double acting pistons '74, each ofwhich has rods extending out both ends of the associated cylinder. Theouter one of each of the rods is connected with the adjacent slide 56 bymeans of a dependent block '76 thereon, as will be seen in both Figures3 and 4. As the pistons move in the cylinders, the associated slides arethus also moved.

The center slide takes a motion different from the two end slides forthe reason that the knife associated therewith must always be exactlyhalf-way between the two outer knives. For this reason, the center slideis connected so that it takes one half the movement of each of the endslides, and in the same sense, whereby once adjusted so its knife ismidway between the two outer knives, it will remain in an exactlycentered position throughout all adjusting movements of the end slides.

According to this invention, this is accomplished by supporting on theunderneath side of the center slide a bar or rod 89, and on each end ofwhich is slidable a yoke 32. Each yoke 82 is connected with the adjacentinner rod of one of the pistons 7 by the links 84. The resultingarrangement is illustrated in Figure 5, and the operation thereof isdiagrammatically illustrated in Figure 8.

in these figures, it will be seen that the movement of either of thepistons 74 in either direction will be accompanied by a movement of thecenter slide in the same direction, but only half the amount.

the preparation of the web for "eing operated by the web slitter andtrimmer, it is printed in the usual man. and at the time of the finalprinting, the web trimmed a predetermined distance outwardly from theouter edge of the printed pattern. Thus, should shrinkage or stretchingof the web occur after the printing has been applied, the trimmed outeredge will always be the same distance from the edge of the printedpattern, and thus provide a reliable guide means when the web isdelivered to the trimming and slitting machine.

Figure l represents very diagrammatically the passage of the web W froma supply roll through a printing press to a take-up roll 92. During thepassage of the web through the press, it is printed at various stations,and at a selected station trimming rollers, as at 94, are provided whichare fixed in the printing machine relative to the edge of the patternbeing printed. The result of this operation is diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 16, wherein the web W is provided with a printedpattern extending from dashed line 96 to dashed line 9d. The trimmingrolls 94, previously referred to, trim oil from each side of the web astrip 100 along a line 102 that is a fixed distance outwardly from theadjacent edge of the pattern, indicated by lines 96 and 98.

When the trimmed web is mounted in the trimming and slitting machine, itengages a feeler arm 114 pivotally mounted on the machine frame closelyadjacent laterally shiftable roller 18. This feeler arm is indicated inFigure 10, and the arrangement will be seen to consist of a mountingpanel 104 that is fixed to the machine frame and on which is carried acoil 106 and reciprocably mounted in coil 106 is an armature 108 biasedin one direction by a. spring 110.

Pivotally mounted on plate 104 by post 112 is the feeler arm 114 thathas an arcuate end 116 bearing on the edge of the web with a lightpressure, say, one-half ounce.

Adjustably mounted on the arm, as by means of slot 118, is a plate 120pivotally supporting a block 122 to which is connected rod 124 leadingto armature 108.

it will be apparent that movements of the web laterally in the machineframe will be accompanied by movements of feeler arm 114 about itspivotal support, and a corresponding adjustment of armature 108 in coil106.

The movement of armature 103 in coil 106 is converted into a usableelectrical impulse in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in Figure13. In this figure it will be noted that coil 106 is, in fact, aplurality of coils, with the two numbered 126 being connected in seriesand supplied with energy from secondary coil 128 of a transformer 130having a primary 132 connected with power lines L1 and L2.

The amplifier output is delivered to field coil 144 of reversible motor146 having a second field coil 148 with a constant input, and the driveshaft of motor 146 is connected for adjusting a hydraulic control valve150 and is also connected with armature 152 associated with coils 142.

Armature 152 is also positioned to influence the serially connectedcoils 154 that are supplied from secondary coil 156 of transformer 130.

At this time it will be seen that what Figure 13 illustrates is anextremely delicate electrically operated de tector that controls aservo-valve, and the adjustment of the servo-valve operating to restorebalance in the electric circuit.

A typical arrangement of motor 146, valve 150, and the connectedarmature 152 is illustrated in Figure 14, and it will be noted that thevalve 150 is connected between the hydraulic motor which it controls anda source of fluid pressure 160. Shifting of the valve in one directionwill drive the motor piston in one direction, whereas shifting of thevalve in the opposite direction will drive the piston in the oppositedirection, and the valve further has a neutral position wherein thepiston is locked stationary.

Inasmuch as the feeler arm 114 is mounted on a bracket fixed in themachine frame, it will be apparent that the feeler arm serves to controlthe position of the web in the frame, so that the edge of the web thatis engaged by the feeler arm is always running in a fixed verticalplane. This locating of the web in the machine insures that the knifeholders will take a minimum amount of movement in following the cuttingliner and '5 also simplifies the mounting of the roll of material to becut in the machine.

At the cutting and slitting end of the machine, adjacent rolls 24, thereis a first feeler arm 166 positioned to engage the right-hand edge ofthe web as it is viewed in Figure 4 and mounted to move with adjacentslide 56. Feeler arm 166, by way of a control circuit identical withthat described in connection with feeler arm 114, controls hydraulicvalve 168, which is connected to sup ply the cylinder 72 associated withright-hand slide 56. Inasmuch as feeler arm 166 is mounted to move withits associated slide, it will be apparent that the slide and feeler armwill shift back and forth laterally in the machine, so as to follow theedge of the web, thereby maintaining the slide and feeler arm insubstantially fixed relation relative to each other and to the adjacentedge of the web.

At the left edge of the web is another feeler arm 170 also mounted onthe slide 56 adjacent thereto that-controls a hydraulic valve 172connected with cylinder 72 associated with left-hand slide 56, and thisis also a follow-up arrangement with the slide and the feeler armshifting laterally in the machine to follow the edge of the web. Thefeeler arm 179 operates to control the valve 172 by way of a controlcircuit identical with those associated with feeler arms 114 and 166.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the deviceaccording to my invention operates as follows; a web is first runthrough a printing machine, and simultaneously is trimmed on itsopposite edges a predetermined and fixed distance outwardly from theopposite edges of the pattern printed thereon.

The printed and roughly trimmed web is then placed in the slitting andtrimming machine and threaded therethrough. As soon as the machine isstarted, and which is accomplished by energizing a motor M that isconnected with one or both of rollers 24, and which is also connectedthrough a speed reducer 180 with shaft 70, the feeler arm 114 becomeseffective for predetermining the lateral position of the web in themachine.

Thereafter feeler arms 166 and 170 serve to control the two outer knifecarriages to maintain their knives a predetermined fixed distanceinwardly from the outer edges of the web being trimmed, with the centerknife occupying a precisely centered position between the outer knivesand slitting the web in half.

It will be observed that, since feeler arm 114 is pivoted to a fixedpoint in the machine, the web will be so controlled that its edgeengaged by feeler arm 114 will always lie in a fixed vertical plane,whereas, since feeler arms 166 and 170 are pivoted to the respectiveslides which they control, the said slides will be controlled so as tooccupy fixed positions relative to the adjacent edges of the web. Eachof the knives can be adjusted laterally independently of the others, andthe machine is thus made to conform to patterns of slightly varyingwidth and to compensate for variations in the structure in individualknives.

Preferably each knife is made as illustrated in Figure 9, wherein itwill be seen that the cutting blade is double edged and is supported inthe plane of the centerline of its supporting arm. This permits use ofboth edges of the blade merely by turning the arm over.

Figures 17 and 18 will show that each arm 40 is received in a slot 184in a block 182 which also has a slot 186 to receive pin 42 of the arm.

Each block 182 is pivotally supported on a rod 187 supported in bracket44 and a stop screw 190 and bar 188 limit tilting movement of the blockin one direction while stop screw 194 limits tilting movement thereof inthe other direction. Sleeve bearings 196 support block 182 on the rodwhile collars 198 and 200 hold it in a fixed position axially of therod.

Bracket 44 has a threaded boss or sleeve 204 fixed thereto that receivesthreaded part 206 of rod 187 and the clamp nut 50 serves to lock the rodin any adjusted position in the bracket, the handwheels 48, of course,being availed of to turn the rods for effecting the adjustment thereof.

Bearings 212 support the rod 187 in the bracket 44 and hold it in rigidaxial alignment so the cutter blade 38 on arm 40 is always presentedperpendicularly'to the web.

The described arm supporting arrangement provides for preciseindependent adjustment of the cutter transversely of the web toaccommodate the machine to the various patterns printed thereon.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the nature described; a frame, means for passing aweb to be trimmed through the frame, a pair of slides laterally movableon the frame, a motor connected between the frame and each slide, afeeler arm pivoted to each slide for engaging the adjacent edge of theweb, means actuated by each feeler for controlling the energization ofthe motor for the associated slide for maintaining the slides in fixedrelation to the edges of the web, a knife supporting bracket on eachslide movable thereon in a direction at right angles to the movement ofthe slide, and a cutter knife on each bracket for cutting the web.

2. In a machine of the nature described; a frame, means for passing aweb to be trimmed through the frame, a pair of slides laterally movableon the frame, a motor connected between the frame and each slide, afeeler arm pivoted to each slide for engaging the adjacent edge of theweb, means actuated by each feeler for controlling the energization ofthe motor for the associated slide for maintaining the slides in fixedrelation to the edges of the web, a knife supporting bracket on eachslide movable thereon in a direction at right angles to the movement ofthe slide, means for moving said brackets on their respective slides inunison, and cutter knives supported in said brackets for lateraladjustability therein.

3. In a machine of the nature described; a frame, means at one end ofthe machine to support a roll of material to be passed through themachine, a roller over which the web of material passes from the roll,said means and roller being interconnected and being movabletransversely of the frame, a motor connected to so move said means androller, a feeler movably mounted in the frame engaging the edge of theweb adjacent said roller, means operated by movements of said feeler forreversibly controlling the energization of said motor thereby to movesaid means and roller to maintain said web in a fixed vertical planerelative to the frame, means to feed said web over a second roller, andmeans at said second roller to trim the edges of said web.

4. In a machine of the nature described; a frame, means at one end ofthe machine to support a roll of material to be passed through themachine, a first roller over which the web of material passes from theroll, said means and first roller being interconnected and being movabletransversely of the frame, a motor connected to so move said means andfirst roller, a feeler movably mounted in the frame engaging the edge ofthe web adjacent said first roller, means operated by moverr'ients ofsaid feeler for reversibly controlling the energization of said motorthereby to move said means and first roller to maintain the edge of saidweb in a predetermined position in the frame, a second roller at theother end of the machine over which the web passes, three slideslaterally spaced on said frame at said second roller and laterallymovable, knives on said slides engaging the web in cutting relation, amotor connected with each outer slide, a feeler movably mounted on eachouter slide engaging the adjacent edge of the web, means operated byeach said slide mounted feeler for reversibly controlling theenergization of the motor for the associated slide so the outer slidesare maintained in fixed relation to the edges of the Web, a memberslidable on the center slide in a direction at right angles to thedirection of movement of the slide, and a link pivoted to said memberand to each of said slides whereby the center slide takes the samemovement as the outer slides and in the same direction but only half theamount of the movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS SteberMay 20, Lewis Mar. 30, Hopkins June 13, Hazeltine Apr. 1, Putt Sept. 18,Frielinghaus Feb. 25, Lev Mar. 28,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar. 19,

